Acknowledging Women’s History Month

October marks Women’s History Month in Canada, which represents a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women today and across history. For the Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT), this serves as a great opportunity to recognize the important role women play in sustaining our healthcare system. In various roles from frontline workers, to support workers, health professionals, and leaders alike, each plays a pivotal role in our commitment to healthcare and health equity.

Impact & Inequities of Women in Healthcare

Women in healthcare represent a critical component in the field. Their expertise, dedication, and service are integral for delivering high quality patient care. Highlights below show the importance of their work throughout history, but also the inequities that are still present.

History

In 1875, Dr. Emily Stowe became the first woman to practice medicine in Canada.
In 1932, Dr. Elizabeth Bagshaw established the first birth control clinic in Hamilton, despite the criminalization of birth control practices at the time.
In 1974, Dr. Bette Stephenson became the first woman elected President of Ontario Medical Association. She was also the first woman to sit on the Board of Directors.
In the 1990s, women-led movements expanded the scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners.

Current Landscape

Women represent approximately 75% of regulated healthcare professionals, including 90% of nurses (2023).
Despite increasing representation in the workforce, women only held approximately 30% of all senior management positions (2021).
Proportion of women in medicine is gradually shifting: In 2022-2023 approximately 53% of medical school graduates were women, but still only 42% of active physicians are women.

Recognizing the accomplishments of women in healthcare requires work to continue to advance progression, including shining light on the inequalities women still face in the workforce.

Our Collective Commitment

The CW OHT is committed to advancing gender equity, supporting professional development, and championing the work of our various partner organizations.

How You Can Support

Support Mentorship: Dedicate time to mentor or reach out to other health professionals to strengthen the women’s healthcare community.
Become an Advocate: Learn and share information regarding women’s issues to increase awareness and drive change.
Elevate Female Voices: Actively seek out leadership opportunities and challenge inequitable situations in the workplace.

Resources

Mentorship